Reflection exercises

In this chapter, you can find some exercises for critical reflection.

Reflection exersise 1: Interview

When you study or facilitate learning in an educational institution in a foreign country, you can directly experience the context where your colleagues or fellow students work and learn about it as you interact with others. This interview lets you have a closer look at the context where you work. You can stop for a while and focus on the issues you encounter and view them from angles that may not be present in an everyday discussion.

In addition to getting information on the context, you will have a chance to discuss your observations and thoughts with somebody who knows the context. The discussion may also trigger new questions afterwards and deepen your learning.

Please focus on the educational context and facilitating learning in that context. You can also include aspects of everyday life in your interview.

What to do

1. Prepare for the interview by creating questions you want to explore. See examples of themes to explore in section Suggestions for the themes of the interview below.
2. Interview someone who knows the educational context and teacher’s work well. You can interview two or more people at the same time to encourage discussion. The interviewees can be, for example, teachers, study counsellors, special education teachers or heads of department. Record the interview or take notes for your analysis.
3. Compile a report of your main findings. Interpret the findings by connecting them to the theoretical background.

Suggestions for the themes of the interview

Please focus on issues concerning facilitating learning, studying and working in the educational institution as well as the learning environment. However, you do not have to strictly distinguish between working/studying and free time – you can include questions about everyday life. Below are examples of themes concerning the educational context that you can explore in your interview:

• The roles of a teacher and student and the relationship between them.
• Characteristics of a good teacher and student.
• Teacher’s autonomy.
• Guidance – for example, who guides, who initiates interaction.
• Learning goals – for example, whose is responsible for setting a student’s learning goals, competences.
• Learning activities – for example, types of learning activities and where they are done.
• Assessment and feedback – for example, assessment criteria, assessment material, assessment decision, peer feedback.
• Recognition of prior learning.
• Interaction and working with peers.
• Diverse learners and diversity.

Consider also the following questions: Can you see similarities between this context and your context? Can you see differences? Think about your approach to learning and your ways of working with students. Did you learn something new about them from the interview or its analysis? Did your approach develop?

Reflection exersise 2: Exploring cultural encounter

The purpose of this assignment is to reflect on a cultural encounter you have experienced together with people from the local community. The aim is not only to learn from this particular cultural encounter but also to learn a method you can use for critical reflection. The method used in this learning task is based on the DIVER model for critical reflection proposed by Jones, P et al. 2019.

What to do?

Start by reading about reflection and exploring the background of the DIVER model in Module 4 Critical reflection and culture in Jones, P et al. 2019.

Now think about the cultural encounters you have had during your study abroad week. Reflect on one of the incidents or a discussions where you think culture and cultural differences played a role together with people from the local community. Using a DIVER model (see chapter Tools for reflection):

1. Describe the incident or discussion in detail.  Try not to interpret or judge – describe what happened or what you heard.
2. Interpret your description by writing or recording what you think about it. Have a look at your interpretation. What does it tell you about the things that are important to you and that you pay attention to?
3. Verify your interpretation with local people such as you colleagues or fellow students. Ask them questions that help you investigate your interpretation and assumptions.
4. Explain your understanding of the incident or discussion drawing on the theoretical background discussed in chapter Content and benefits for reflection. Consider also your original interpretation: what do the words you have used in it reveal about your perspective? What assumptions can you notice in your interpretation? Where do you think they come from? What does your interpretation tell you about the knowledge base do you draw on? What does it reveal about your values and beliefs?
5. Write about your understanding of the event.

This task is adapted from Jones, P et.al. 2019.

Reflection exersise 3: What I have learned this week?

Use a notebook, digital journal, sketchbook, an App such as Notes or Pages or a journaling App such as Day One, Diaro or Momento, keep a weekly journal. Questions to reflect each week:

Version A

1. What have I learned from the new experiences (both positive and negative)?
2. How did I adapt to new situations? How did I interact with others?
3. What challenges and opportunities I encountered? How did I deal them? Did I look for solutions to problems?
4. How these experiences will personally empower me and professionally trained me?

Version B

1. What was the highlight of my week?
2. What was my worst experience in this week?
3. What did I learned from my positive and negative experiences?
4. How did I feel in these situations?
5. What would I do differently in next time?

Reflection exercise 4: Last day of mobility

Meet somebody from you hosting peers on the last day of the mobility and share your learning experience based on following questions:

• How did you see yourself before the experience in a new country?
• What were your motivations?
• What were your expectations?
• How were the first days/first weeks?
• What computer skills and competences have you acquired?
• What organizational skills and competences have you acquired?
• What social skills and competences have you acquired?
• What knowledge and skills have you acquired?
• What was the most difficult and why?
• What was the easiest and why?
• Where there any cultural differences that you noticed and that were a challenge to face?
• What was the strategy for adaptation (resources)?
• What were your qualities/strengths that helped you?
• What was the main lesson?
• In what way are you different?
• How do you feel about going home?
• How do you see the professional and personal future?